Lake Barcroft (Lake)

Lake Barcroft is a man-made lake in the center of the Lake Barcroft neighborhood.

It was originally constructed beginning in 1913 as a reservoir for the Alexandria Water Company by damming the Tripps Run and Holmes Run near Columbia Pike and the Barcroft Mill.[1] The dam was designed by the engineering firm of D. J. Howell and Son and constructed by the Piedmont Construction Company of University, Virginia.[2]

During construction of the dam by the Piedmont Construction Company, 15-year-old Hubert S. Monger was fatally injured when the steam drill he was operating rolled over on him and crushed his skull on October 13, 1913.[3][4] The mortally injured youth was taken to the Alexandria Hospital, where he died later that evening.[3]

Construction of the dam was completed by July 1915.[5]

The dam was modified in 1942 with gates atop the spillway, which increased the depth of the lake by five feet.[1]

On February 8, 1950, the 114-acre lake and 566 acres of surrounding property were put up for sale by Alexandria Water, which said the 800 million gallon capacity of the lake was inadequate.[6][7]

Incidents

On June 3, 1953, 17-year-old George E. Schindler, Jr. drowned while swimming in the lake.[8]

On July 8, 1959, four-year-old Diane Berry drowned in the lake.[9]

On July 18, 1963, 35-year-old Edwin G. Grimsley suffered severe head injuries, including a fractured skull, and drowned while swimming in pursuit of four teenaged boys who were launching cherry bomb firecrackers at beachgoers.[10]

On June 8, 1968, 3-year-old Todd P. Rowan fell off a pier behind his family's home at 3545 Pinetree Terrace and drowned.[11]

On May 31, 1971, 14-year-old Gerald P. Arnold drowned while swimming in the lake.[12]

On May 25, 1975, 16-year-old Carl Reeves and 22-year-old Butch S. Parr drowned in the lake when the canoe they and three others had liberated capsized.[13]

On April 21, 1976, 17-year-old Joe Webb, Jr. drowned while swimming in the lake.[14][15]

On August 14, 1997, 11-year-old Abdirahman Ali and 10-year-old Abdirizak Hussein drowned while wading in the lake. Neither boy knew how to swim.[16]

On October 2, 2000, 20-year-old Gilmar Cornelio Gonzales drowned in the lake when the canoe he and three others had liberated capsized.[17]

On July 14, 2016, 17-year-old Jeremy J. Munga drowned while swimming in the lake.[18]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bracken, Anthony, and Stuart Finley. Lake Barcroft History. Falls Church, VA: Lake Barcroft Association, 2001. PDF.
  2. ↑ "Start Work on Reservoir." Evening Star, 27 Apr. 1913, p. 10. NewsBank. Accessed 1 Mar. 2018.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "H. S. Monger Killed by Drill." The Washington Post (1877-1922): 9. Oct 14 1913. ProQuest. Web. 4 Jan. 2014.
  4. ↑ "Dies as Result of Injuries." Evening Star, 14 Oct. 1913, p. 14. NewsBank, . Accessed 1 Mar. 2018.
  5. ↑ "Great Dam Forms Lake to Supply Alexandria's Water." Evening Star, 4 Jul. 1915, p. 37. NewsBank. Accessed 1 Mar. 2018.
  6. ↑ "Lake Near D.C. and 566 Acres are for Sale." The Washington Post (1923-1954): 1. Feb 09 1950. ProQuest. Web. 4 Jan. 2014.
  7. ↑ Netherton, Ross De Witt, and Nan Netherton. Fairfax County in Virginia: a Pictorial History. Norfolk: Donning, 1986. Print.
  8. ↑ "Two Drownings Take Lives of Girl, Youth." The Washington Post (1923-1954): 18. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post (1877-1994). Jun 04 1953. Web. 30 Dec. 2011.
  9. ↑ Coleman, Barbara. "Girl, 4 Loses Life in Lake Barcroft." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 1. Jul 09 1959. ProQuest. Web. 7 July 2014.
  10. ↑ Douglas, Walter B. "Lake Death Stirs Hunt for Slayers." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 2. Jul 20 1963. ProQuest. Web. 15 July 2016 .
  11. ↑ "Boy, 3, Drowns Behind Home in Lake Barcroft." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 1. Jun 09 1968. ProQuest. Web. 9 Feb. 2017.
  12. ↑ Bowman, LaBarbara "Two Boys Drown in Anacostia." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 1. Jun 01 1971. ProQuest. Web. 15 July 2016 .
  13. ↑ Lyons, Douglas C. "2 Die in Canoe Mishap as Drowning Toll Rises." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 1. May 26 1975. ProQuest.Web. 15 July 2016 .
  14. ↑ Bachinski, E.J. "Two Die in Area Drownings, Bodies of Two Others Sought." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 2. Apr 22 1976.ProQuest. Web. 21 June 2016 .
  15. ↑ "Youth's Body found in Lake." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 1. Apr 24 1976. ProQuest. Web. 21 June 2016.
  16. ↑ Mooar, Brian. "Two Boys Drown in Fairfax." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 2. Aug 15 1997. ProQuest. Web. 15 July 2016 .
  17. ↑ "Body Recovered From Lake Barcroft." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2000. Web. 15 July 2016.
  18. ↑ FCPD Public Affairs Bureau. "Update: Missing Swimmer Found." Fairfax County Police Department News. Fairfax County Police Department, 15 July 2016. Web. 15 July 2016.

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